HomeMy WebLinkAbout2.0 BOCC Staff Report 04.17.1995PROJECT INFORMATION AND STAFF
4-11-95
Use Permit for a Natural Gas
REOTIES'I':
APPLICANT:
I,OCATION:
ACCESS:
EXISTING AND ADJACENT ZONING:
Questar PiPeline ComPanY
A right-of-way located iu sections 34,
2i,i2, 27, 16, 17, B, 5, 6, T5s R93w:
Sections l, T5S R94W: and Sections
36,35,26,27,22 ,21T4S R94W of
the 6th PM; Located along an existing
pipeline easement that extends fi'om
ifuUUa.a Gulch, droPs down the
Govemmetrt Creek drainage, and then
west iuto Rio Blanco CountY'
N/A
A/TVRD, R/L
l-speciat
(Pileline
I.
tI.
T[e subject propefiy is locatecl i1 Distr-ict B - Rural Areas with Milor Etrvironmental
constrai,ts, District c - R,r.al Areas with Moclerate E.viro,unental constrair.rts, District and
District F - Rrrral Areas with Major Environmentar constrai,ts as clesignated by the Gartreld
C ounty C ompreltett sive M atta gement District' s rnap'
DESCRIPTION OF T}IE PROI'OSAL
A. Site ancl Project Description: Questar Pipeline Inc' is proposing to replace an
existi,g l0 ilrch pipeli.e with a i+ ir.,"tt pipeline iu westem Garfield Corurty' The
prposed pipeli,e *iit otlow adclitio,al gur rtl,*"s to te tralsported between Questar
Pipeline cornpany's existilrg pipet-irre syterna nd other gas suppliers that are
iltercoluecr".i *ii Questar Pipelile's sotttheur trattsmission system'
T|e pipelirte begitts treat tlte existing Questar Pipelirre's Clough statioll in Hubbard
Gulch ancl follows our existing pipeline up Hirbbard Mesa, continttes along the
exising pipeline across 32 Mile Gtrlch ancl chnps dowr Govetlment:-::i U:1]:^::;
;";"::,'i'ffi"r i"'r,"iio B.lgrco cotmty Li,e (see attachecl mappi,g' and the
application on Pages 6'
Associatecl pipelile facilities ilclucle a pig latulcher relocated from Picaenace Creek
Compressor statior, and an above gro,rrl valve assembly witlin the pipeline ROW'
A 70' foot wide conidor will be required for constntction and can be reverted back
to the original 50 foot ROW width'
Staging areas will be necessaty for the cottstruction of the pipelile' Locations within
Garfielrl Coturty itrclrrtle a ZOO' x 400' site approxin-rately 2miles tp CR 244' a 200'
x I50, site approxirnately I0 miles up State fiigtrt oy I3, attd.a additional 250' x 250'
site aloug State Highway 13 at the Rio Blanco-Couirty Line (see attached rnapping)'
Questar will secure all ROWs on arljacent non-federal lands prior to commencment
of pipeline construction. All equiprnent ancl veltictrlal access into the pipeline project
COMMENTS
, /-,
I
2.
J.
4.
v.
\-*iff be colfined to existing roads and the established ROW conidor. A specific date
\ fo. "on.truction
has not been detenniued, but will cornmene when "all ROW
' docrrmettts have beett secrtred".
,.
III. MAJOR ISST]ES AND CONCERNS
l. Easements. The applicants have not obtained easements for the entire length of the
project. Staff worrlil suggest that the subrnittal of all easement agreements be a
condition of apllroval.
portiort of CR 242. This
and l}idge Deltaftntent.
a final SUP.
The mapping appear to indicate a crossing of an urimproved
, crossittg will require approval fi'om Garfielcl County Road
Tfiese allllrovals shogld be received pdor to t|e issuance of
3. Revegetation. The pdrnary irnltact associated with the project will be addressed by
revegetation. The applicant has aclclressecl revegetation requirements within tlre
application, ancl staffhas cleveloped conditions to mitigate these impacts.
rv.SUGGBSTBD FINDINGS
l.That proper publication and public notice was provided as required by law for the
hearing beflore the Board of County Cotntnissioners.
T6at the fiearing before the Board of County Commissioners was exlensive and
complete, that all pertillent facts, matters and issues were subrnitted and that all
interested pafties were heard at the hearing.
Tlrat tlre application is in cornpliance with the Garfield Courty ZonirrgResolution of
1978, as amended.
For the above statecl ancl other reasons, the proposed ttse is in the best interest of the
health, safety, morals, conveniettce, order, prosperity and welfare of the citizens of
Garfield Courty.
RECOMMENDATION
Staffis recotnmending APPROVAL, sulrject to the following conditions:
(NOTE: Tlese conditions are moilellecl after the recent approval of the Rocky Morurtaiu
Natural Gas/Public Service of colorado project in April of 1995).
l. All proposals ofthe applicant shall be considered conditions of approval unless stated
otherwise by the Board of Coturty Commissioners'
Z. The applicant shall have 120 clays fi'orn the date of the Resolution of Conditional
approval to meet all conclitions set forth in the Resolution. The Special Use Permit
shallbe issue{ when all conclitions are met and shall expire 120 days after issuance,
unless construction ol'tlse ltave commenced.
3. Standard procedures for the project will include implementation of erosion control
antl revegetation measures to insure that lancls disnubed by construction activities will
be restorerl to a stable, productive, and aestltetically acceptable condition.
4. Durirrg constructiorr of the project, a representative of Questar Pipeline Company
shall: (a) act as a liaisol with the landowner/agency representative; (b) provide
expertise to direct restoration of the right-of-way wlten special conditions are
elcoturtererl, without causing construction delays; and (c) promote favorable public
relations.
5. Installation ofthe pipeline will follow clearing of the construction area. Reclamation
?a-
6.
and revegetation will follow the pipeline's ilstallation, especially in areas with soils
that are highly susceptible to wind or water erosion'
Questar Pipeline Company will conduct all activities associated with the project in
a malllrer that will avoicl or minirnize degaclation of air, lald and water quality' In the
colstlrction, operatiotr attd nraiutettatlce of the project, Questar will perform their
activities accordi,g to afplicable air a,tl water quolity standarcls, related facility siting
stanclarcls, and relatecl plans of irnplernentation'
All desigtr, constructiol, operatiott, a1d maitttenance practices will be couducted
accorclirig to safe and proven Errgineering Practices'
When possible, project work will be coorclinated with other work occunirlg o11 of
planned for locations alotlg the route'
I l. construction- relatecl traffic will be restricted to routes approved by the controlling
juriscliction. New access roacls oI cross-country vehicle travel will not be permitted
unless prior approval was given by Garfield cou[ty.. Any ternporary roads used by
euestar will be rehabilitated when construction activities are completed, as approved
by Garfield CountY.
12. where possible, the right-of-way itself will be usecl as an access road during the
cottstntction Period.
13. Borittg, if qrecifiecl by Garfielcl Coutty Roacl ancl Briclge Deparlment' will be required
fbr develolled roads.
14. Permaneut culvefts shall meet the qlecificatiotts of Garfield County Road and Bridge
Department or the private lan{owrlr. Where drainages will be crossed by temporary
roads, dirt fills, or culverts will be placed and removed rtpon completion of the
project. culverts oll telnporary roads itall rneet the requirerneuts of.Garfield cotutty
I(oafl and Briflge Departmetlt. All stream channels and washes will be retumed as
near as practical to their natttral state'
15. All clarnaged County Roads shall be repairecl to the reqttirements of Garfield Cotutty
Road and Bridge DePaftment'
16. To minirnize clisturbailce associated with installation of the pipeline, Questar will not
glacle the riglrt-of-way outsicle of t|e trenclt line, except where necessary' o1 all level
and gentlY sloPing tetrain.
17. Sidehill cuts will be kept to a minirnum to protect local resotlrces while providing a
safe and stable plane for the efficient use of equipment'
18. Existilg grotnr{cover sttclt as grasses, leaves, bntsh, and trees will be cleared only
ffi -""*--mf"r operatiott-of "quip,rt"nt.
In general, grasses, forbs' a,d shnrbs
will be ..,t ffiJ. gr*t,rJ level leavirig their root systems intact. The cuttings will
be redistributed over the right-of-way Jtrring reclatnation or disposed of as directed
by the Pdvate land owuer.
19. Trees and shrubs that are not clearecl fi'om the dght-of-way will be protectecl fi'om
damage cftning constructiol by avoiclirlg them .with equipment' For example'
bulltlozers will rnaintain their blacle in a raised position except at areas designated for
clealing or to smooth ottt sharp breaks in relief'
Ntk
9. Where lanclowrers have not specified measures for the reclamation and revegetatton
\- ,, of their property, Questar ,rill ,.,r" the tneasttres identified irr their application'
-\ r0. -;,i;;,,1;;il;H .il;'il J,,,i,,g tle project's cottstrttction.will be reco-trstructed to
-YvbJirIAe- rneet the allDroval of the Garhelct uouuty l(oao allo Dr ruBE ruPr-r ""-' ''G-"-' :---_1ffifi;il;;il ofprorut fi'orn Roact and Bridge for all road reconstructio,' (2)
>3-
\ zz.
\zo.
\ zt.
::.
23.
2.4
,25
26.
\ zq.
\so.
\:z
SLOPE (%)
3to7
8 to 15
l6 to 30
3l to 40
4l+
Grading for the pipeline will be clone only when necessary for the safe operation of
the installation.
Matedals excavated fi-om the trench will be stored next to the tre,ch to facilitate usi,g
a milirnum amoulrt of right-of-way, and protect the material fi'om vehicular and
equipment traffic.
T6e tre,c1 will be excavatetl usiug as srnall an area of tlisturbance as possible to
rnininrize disturbarrce of vegetation'
Excavatiolt of t[e trertclt in especially selsitive aleas may be conducted according to
special techuiques as specified by the landomer'
Backfilling of the trench will be replaced and approved by the landowner'
Where local hyclrological conditiotls wartant, Questar will irrstall breakers matle up
of sarrdbags in the treircl before Backfilli,g. These breakers will control sub-surface
drainage along the PiPeline.
In areas of steep slolles that are not annually cultivated, waterbars or runoff diversions
will be installed as follows: (2)\N
g
Diu"..ion Snacins (Feet)
150
100
75
50
35
\
All cuts rnacle in steep or rollilg tenain during construction will be regraded and
contoured to blencl into the acljoi,fig lanclscape un,lto reestablish the natural drainage
patteuts.
Where requirecl, erosion cotttrol strttctttres stlch as water bars, diversion channels' and
terraces will be constructetl to divert water away fi'om the trench and reduce soil
erosion along t|e right-of-way ancl other adjoining areas disturbed during
cortstrttction.
Questar will dispose of materials utrsuitable for use as backfill or excess backfill
rnaterial at approved locatiotts.
Ternporary work qlaces used for crossing streams a1d highways and other special
sites will be restorerl to approxirrlate llrecottstructiotl conditions'
Suitable mulches and other soil stabilizing practices will be ttsed on regraded and
topsoile6 al.eas, where requirecl, to protett.rrvegetated soil frorn wind and water
erosiotr ancl to itullrove *ui". absorlttion. Questar will consult with the landowner
to clefine the appropriate rnulches for eaclt segment of the route.
Unless otherwise directed by the lattclowler, Questar will redistribute rocks' cttt
vegetation, ancl otlter surface material temporarily stockpiled for construction back
o.ior. t1e riglrt-of-way 6istu'bed during cottstructiolt.
Questar will seecl clistglbecl areas ttsittg seed rnixes appropriate to the location' The
qtecific locatiotts along the selectecl aitentative wltere each seed mix will be applied
will be iclentified in the Envintonmental Assessment'
Seerling will be clone when seasottal or weatlter conditions are tnost favorable
accorcling to schedules iclentified by the latldowter. Whenever possible' seeding will
be tirned to take advantage of moisture, such as eally spring or late fall to benefit fully
fi'orn winter preciPitation.
31.
\,,
.(-
installin g the PiPeline'
Mu
r wil'qrply t\rnulch
rfit rnul&r.is useil;il will bet
38.
(r
\
\
39.
40
{ 41.
\oo
\:s
\,u
\ +2.
v +:.
\4s
Seed rnixes will be plantecl i1 the amotutt specified in poturds of pure live seed/acre'
where uecessary. There will be no prirnary or secontlaty tloxiotts weeds in the seed
ruix. Cornmercial seecl will be either cetifiecl or registered seed'
The reestablishrnent ofvegetative covel as well as watershed stabilization measures
will be scheclule6 d*ring ihe work season alrl before the succeeding winter' In any
case, I'evegetation treirnents will be accornplishecl as quickly as possible after
Ternporary measures that Questar could irnplernent to facilitate reclamation and
revegetation shall include:
(a) constructing temporary breakers at proper intervals on slopes and access
roads to corttrol runoffwhenever applicable'
(b) install silt screens as silt baniers in swales, at the base of small slopes' and in
other areas subiect to sedimentation fi.orn low velocity r.uloff;
(c) seedilg critical areas sttch as road crtts altd stleam banks with an approved
grass seed rnix;
(d) rnulching slopes, wltere required; and
(e) protect drailrs with ban'iers'
Dr.ri-lp,^(, ,.-rv 11 r+ ! : /r'J' "''-.;il,;1,;lri,lotion if 6e ROW, Questar will trirn trees iu preference to cutting trees
ancl will cut trees in preferelrce to bulldozing' Tltese techniques will be used in
cornbination to procltrce a ttatttral lookirrg or feathered-eclge appearailce rather than
a straight-linecl appearattce. Trees will only be cttt or tdtnmed to facilitate clearing'
gtading, and safe installatiorr.
too;u".u,
to major highways, trees over six (6) inches i, cliarneter at breast height will
be left irrsitle the n5W, *li"n pru.tical. Trees which must be rernoved will be cut'
Trees ogtsicle the area of clisturbarrce will not be cut, but will olly have overhanging
lirnbs rernoved by cutting, with the tree to remain' 'fhe bulldozers will maintain their
blacle itr a raisecl positioli i. these sensitive visual 'esource
areas' where practical'
Ulless otfierwise requested by the lattdowter,Qgestar will leave the Row in a
,,ronghenecl" state ttrai wltt cliscourage tlte recreational use of the ROW by oflroad
vehicle etttltttsiasts.
Care will be taken to avoid spill of lubricants or fuels and other tyres of pollution irt
all areas, inclucli.g streams a,cl other bodies of water' Although spills are rurlikely'
any spills arrcl trasft-will be cleanecl up irmnerliatd. Also, all appropriate agencies will
be prornptly notified of arly sigrificant spills'
userl engine oil will be cotrtained in suitable contaiuers and removed fi'om the Row'
Constructiol eqtrillment will not be reftreled or seryiced within or near Stream
channels.
Gartage ancl other refirse will be cliqlosed of in suitable containers and removetl from
the ROW.
Constmction sites will always be rnaintainecl in a sanitary condition; waste materials
ar rvill.not ltttt
applie\t the
eta
is re\est
into tlr
46.\
5-
\1
the during reclamatioll
47.
at those sites will be rlisposed of prornptly at an appropriate waste disposal site-
"Waste" nteaus all discardeil mater including human waste, trash, garbage, reftise, oil
dnrms, petrolettm prodttcts, asltes attd eqttillrnent.
Ilxisting fences, gates, aucl blace panels that require modification cluring cottstructiott
will be reconstructed to appropriate staltdatds.
All structrtLes suclt as telTaces, levees, rlndergrouud drairrage systems, irrigation
pipeliles, ancl canals will be restored to llreconstntction conditions so that they will
firirction as originally intended, unless directed othetwise by the controlling
jurisdiction.
-IM].IG iffi1 pSCd will protect all survey monuments found within the ROW byMNG and
ffit,,rg ;aavoIting thern. Survey rnonurnents include, bttt are not lirnited to,
Geleral Lalcl Office Caclastral Sruvey Conrers, reference points, witness comers, US
Geocletic benchrnarks and triangulation stations, military control monttmeuts, and
recogtizable civil(public and private) survey ntotruments. Ilany of these monuments
are obliteratecl or {istgrbecl,Questar will report the incidertt, in writing, to the
lanrlowner/agency representative and tlte authority tltat installed the mottument, if
klown. Where General larrcl Oflice ROW monuments or references were obliterated
rlgring operations,Questar will secure the service or a registered land suNeyor to
restore the disturted mouumeuts and refereuces ttsing surveying procedttres found in
tle Manual of Suruefng Instructions for the Survey of Public Larrds of the United
States, latest edition. Questar will recorcl any suclt sulveys in the proper couttty and
sencl an copy to the landowner/agency representative. If suryeyors are ttsed to restore
tfte clistgrbed suruey monuntent, Questar will be responsible for the sulvey cost.
Ifrroxious weeds infest portions ofthe ROW, tlte populations will be controlled using
chemical, mechanical, biological, or other mearls. Control of the populatiotrs^would
occllr cluring the season or growth stage where it would be most effective. -TX
Where the ROW crosses strearns and otlter bodies of water, the banks will be
stabilizecl to prevent erosion. Appropriate cottstruction techniques will be used to
rninimize darnage to shorelines, recreational areas, and fish and wildlife habitat.
During constructiolr llear streams or lakes, sedirnerttation (detention) basins, straw
bales, or fabric liners rnay be constructecl to prevellt suspertdecl pafticles fi'orn reaching
downstreatn watelcourses or lakes.
Dry strearns will be crossecl by trenching. Small flowing streams will be crossed by
flurning or trenching with a clownstream silt banier to reduce downstream
sedimentation. f lccu '' ,-
Distlr'bance to liparian vegetatiorr ancl wetlands will be minirnizerl by keeping clearing
apd itrstallation to as ltan'ow a clisturbance as possitrle. Approacltes to streams will
involve selectecl clearitrg of vegetation. Willows and cottollwoods cleared dtrring
constnrction will be reestablishecl as paft of reclamatiotl.
If work is required in willow/shrub type wetlands, the srnall trees and shmbs will be
tr-immed to grourd line in areas where equiprnent will be working to minimize darnage
to vegetatiorr.
To rninirnize impacts on wetlancls, only equiprnent needed to dig the trench, install
the pipeline, backfill the treuch, and reclaim the ROW will be allowed to work in the
area, rurless a suitable rottte is uravailable for personttel movement.
Where starding water or saturated soils exist, equiprnent will operate offtimber pads,
-Q-
qge;,".-
\o*
\sr.
\sz.
\ 54.
\t so\-714ryq arl,I FSCbI*ll provicle for the safety of the public using public roads
er,:tdl.t i_ 'intersectirrg the ROW. Safety measru'es will incltrde, bttt not limited to, roads detours,
banicades for open trettcltes, and flagpersons.
-. 53.
55.
\ 56.
\,,
v ss.
ct},,
prefabricated equiprnent pads, or geotextile fabric overlain with gravel fill when
ir...rru,y for colstlrction. After constrttction, all pads will be removed'
T1e first 12 ilches of topsoil fi'orn wetlands will be salvaged and redistributed over
tfie trenc| as quickly as possible following installatiol of tfue pipeline. The seeds,
foots, rfiizomes, tubers, ,r,l bulbt present i1 the topsoil will enhalce and he$ speed
tup reclamation of wetlands disttuted by cottstruction'
Where llecessaly, wateillars or seclimettt filters, srtch as staked Straw bales or silt
feltces, willbe colstnrctecl a<ljacent to the crossittgs to reduce potential sedilnentation
\uo
in streams or rvetlattds.
-X possible
ecl in a
\
\ Oi Sl,tNC,,"a nq$A^ll rneet all stipulatioils to fulfill all federal and state cultural and
_--'Alroleontologicalffiurc" legal reqtiirements. This includes having a Class III Cultural
,...o,rr". alcl paleontological survey conducted by a qualified archaeologists and
6)J*tAr<_ paleontologistsbeforeconstrttctio,occtlrs'
\6i ftt streams with florv, mater-ial excavated fi'orn the trench will be qrread out and piled
irregularly to avoid dattrnrittg the flow.
\ 6i A1y cultur.al or paleontological resources (historical or prehistoric site or object)
cliscovered will be irnrnecliate-ly repoftecl to the landowrrer/ageilcy representative' All
operatiorls will be s,.rspenclecl in the irnmediate areas of sttch discovery rurtil
agthorizatiol to proceecl is issuerl try the lanclowrer/agellcy representative' An
evaluatiol of the cliscovery will be rnacle by the controlling jurisdiction to determine
appropriate actions to prevent the loss of sigrificant cultural or scientific values'
euestar will be reqtonsibie for the cost of evaluatiott and rnitigation, and any decision
as to proper.rnitigaiion nleasrres will be rnade by the landowter/agency representative
aft er cottsttltation withQuestar.
\{\ dl No hazarilous matedal will be storecl within 100 feet of the streambank, nor will any
refirelirrgorpipecoatillgbedonewithinthatdistance.
\!\ Oe. The cltattttel cotttottlwill not be altered.
. t," ., 6?],' Eqrosed slopes arrcl strearlbanks willbe stabilized imrnediately upoll completiorr using
_.-.--'-"*--r*r r^,\-r* OBI S-treanrbanks will be revegetate6 *iffi-tiu.]Iaot{*".
Ptc fur ccr#;r<r,c.r..:,- . -\cg, ^" X"i];,*i" rLrL, epraq L\r.,ra*:oa ,*)o*ono
3 :njl-tLrc'rvr Jt\oe L P?o,t,56 Pv6t.crvol,ta 6F o..'^oo=\' A;:*t Fg (ou,ff lz.,pp\. v r R vzvrgftlors . s t",NA,,€ €Ar/Novvr€.ur{r\
-\,,rrl*, o,1.r**r.,', -a,/,
Gr.Co-do,ro: Frtp4g l51-_f
7o Y( Z Ptreq.tts rg} (ts"oa_o r /^,^ /,r _ \ (I .\
wts;,:n.ff: r co{A'rro^/ oT FPPITvPJ\_ \N i sy rq_, 6^1o,rc41 )
. 7-